Kinoshita Shines with Two Goals; Bears Clinch Share of American Conference Title

Sunday, November 1

Charlotte, N.C.

5:00 p.m.

Missouri State University

12-1-3, 5-1-2

Charlotte

8-3-4, 4-2-2

Team	1	2	Final F
Missouri St.	1	3	4
Charlotte	0	2	2

Highlights

November 01, 2026 | Men's Soccer

Box Score Highlights

By: Teodora Jovic

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Missouri State men's soccer (12-1-3, 5-1-2) topped fellow frontrunner Charlotte with a 4-2 score here Sunday, securing a share of the American Conference regular-season title for the Bears in the regular-season finale.

Fifth-year midfielder Kei Kinoshita scored a pair of second-half goals for Missouri State to secure the victory with scoring strikes in the 49th and 67th minutes.

With a Sunday win over Memphis, Tulsa also finished 5-1-2 in American Conference play to share the regular-season title with the Bears. Tulsa's head-to-head win over Mo State on Oct. 11 gives the Golden Hurricane the No. 1 seed for the American Conference Tournament semifinals and finals, Nov. 11 and 14, while the Bears will be the No. 2 seed.

"I am super happy for the team, Missouri State University, and for Springfield that we were able to win the championship of the American Conference in our second season," stated head coach Michael Seabolt. "It is a tremendous accomplishment for the whole program, for the athletic department and I am just super proud of the team and the staff and everyone involved with Missouri State soccer, along with all of our boosters and supporters who do so much for us."

In the first half, the Bears waited for an opportunity to attack, playing strong defense and forbidding the 49ers (8-3-4, 4-2-2) a chance to score. In the 19th minute, fifth-year Diego Real secured his 10th goal of the season off a long cross by classmate Adrián Esteban to give the Bears a 1-0 lead.

Bears keeper Fernando Alves Schmelz made the first of three pivotal saves of the night in the 25th minute, closing the door on 49er attacker Larry Noel to keep it a 1-0 game at the half.

Mo State then started the second half on fire, scoring twice in the span of three minutes to extend its lead to 3-0. In the 47th minute, fifth-year Martin Gasztos found the back of the net with a brilliant header off a corner kick by Esteban. Two minutes later, Kinoshita slotted the ball to the bottom left of the goal off a perfect pass by classmate Harris O'Connor.

Charlotte found a way to get on the scoreboard in the 55th minute when Andreas Evangelou cut into Missouri State's lead.

But Kinoshita was not done, scoring his second goal of the night in the 67th minute again to the bottom left of the net with the assist credited to both Real and O'Connor, making it 4-1.

"I am very happy I scored two goals and that the team won the championship," stated Kinoshita. "When I was on the pitch the situation for the team was a bit tough, so I thought that I could bring the ball down which is my strength to try and bring us forward."

Charlotte did not go down without a fight, rallying in the 79th minute with 49er Wiktor Pucilowski finding the back of the net to make the final score 4-2.

Ultimately, it was the Bears who secured not only a 4-2 victory, but also a share of their first American Conference regular-season title.

Missouri State ended the night with 13 shots, of which seven were on goal, while Charlotte ended with 17 shots with three on goal. The Bears tallied four corner kicks, to the 49ers two. Mo State's Alves finished with three saves, as did Charlotte keeper Tom Carmeli, who came into the game leading the nation in goals-against average.

"We are still very hungry, and it is right back to work for us as we have a lot of work to do and keep improving our game," continued Seabolt. "We've been improving each game all season and that's still our process and that's still our goal, to take it one game at a time, keep improving and just enjoy working together."

The Bears will be the No. 2 seed for the American Conference Tournament and receive an opening-round bye. Mo State will play the winner of No. 3 Charlotte vs. No. 6 FIU in a 4:30 p.m. semifinal game on Nov. 11 in Tulsa. The championship game will take place on Nov. 14.

#GoBears